Travel + Leisure's Essential Guide To Kyoto

Above, a view of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been to Japan eight times over the years. I usually try to see different places on each trip.

I have been to Kyoto twice. The first was with G-TOUR in 2004 and the second time was in 2015. Each visit was enjoyable and well worth a trek there.

Travel + Leisure has posted an essential guide to Kyoto.

They begin it with:

Kyoto is the very image of traditional Japan: gold-clad temples and shrines with tunnels of red torii gates, kimono-clad geisha gliding down cobblestone alleys, grassy matcha tea served by the exquisitely choreographed rules of ancient ceremony.

As the imperial capital for over a thousand years, the city was a magnet for wealth and culture, and that rich history remains alive today in traditions like kaiseki cuisine, Kyo-ware ceramics, Yuzen silk dyeing, sake brewing, and classical drama forms like kabuki and noh (a type of theatrical dance). And yet Kyoto is also a modern city with modern comforts, where people live and work amid the legacy of centuries, sustaining and sustained by a living heritage.

This tangible atmosphere of refined culture and history is why Kyoto routinely makes the top of dream destination lists. With thousands of ancient temples and shrines, retro streets lined with shops and teahouses in the city’s unique kyo-machiya townhouses, a world-class food scene with 75 Michelin-starred restaurants, and an ever-growing number of five-star hotels, Kyoto has plenty to draw in the crowds—and draw it does. The city welcomed over 56 million visitors last year, including a record high of nearly 11 million overseas travelers. 

So, how to make the most of a visit without getting bogged down in mobs of tour groups and Instagrammers jostling for the iconic shot? We talked to Cindy Bissig, a Kyoto-based photographer and sake-focused food writer, and got her recommendations on lesser-known spots to enjoy the lesser-known side of the city.

Here's what you need to know before planning a trip to Kyoto, Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Japan’s Summer Holiday Travel Rush Is Here

Above, the famous Miyajima Island torii gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The summer travel rush in Japan has just started. 

Tourists, foreign and locals, are flocking to places around the country and filling up bullet trains and other public transportation.

According to Travel and Tour World:

Japan’s summer travel surge is here, and it’s feeling hot literally and figuratively. Trains and planes to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka are sold out. Families are reuniting, tourists are sightseeing, and everybody is moving, moving, moving. Long check-in lines, crammed concourses, and sold-out flights tell you this season is all systems go.

Last Saturday, JR Tokyo Station buzzed loud. Every Nozomi shinkansen seat zooming to Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka disappeared. Travelers formed long queues for unreserved seats on other lines, turning platforms into crowded waiting zones. Doesn’t stop there: expressway bumper-to-bumper jams sent drivers cursing. Many ducked into waiting rooms and concourses, seeking A/C relief from the summer furnace.

I have been to Japan during the summer once (that was the first G-TOUR in 2004) and it was very hot, especially in Kyoto. My preferred seasons for Japan travel are spring and autumn.

To read more, go here. 

Crowd Awaits Trump In Scotland

 

Monica Crowley posted:

Can confirm https://t.co/NThmv90wK0

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) July 26, 2025

Cruise Ships For Travellers Who HATE Crowds

Above, the Norwegian Sky made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even before the pandemic hit in 2020, the idea of going on a cruise on a massive behemoth cruise ship did not suit my fancy. To me, those ships are floating petri dishes.

The three cruises I have taken over the years were on smaller ships that accommodated under 3,000 people. Even then, I have come down with viruses anyway (fortunately, nothing major).

The topic of a Yahoo! article is about cruise ships for people who hate crowds. The ship I took to the Bahamas last summer, the Norwegian Sky, made the list. For me, it was just right.

The article begins with:

If the idea of sharing a ship with 7,000 passengers makes you queasy, the biggest cruise liners might not be your thing. But go too small, and you risk missing out on the perks that make cruising special – poolside lounging, a choice of bars and restaurants, spa days at sea and quality entertainment. That’s where 'Goldilocks cruises' come in: mid-sized ships that strike the perfect balance. Not too big, not too small – just right.

To read the full article, go here. 

14 Kinds of People Who Should Never Go On A Cruise

Above, if you hate crowds and lines, don't go on a cruise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel, by differing means, is something that isn't "one size, fits all". One person may love taking cruises (I have a friend who is a cruise fanatic he will be taking one solo soon), another may be totally repelled by the idea.

I fall somewhere in the middle. 

MSN has a slideshow article (from January) on 14 kinds of people who should never go on a cruise.

They begin it with:

With a new year approaching, it's natural to start dreaming of our next vacations. Cruises can be a budget-friendly choice for vacationers who want to unpack once and relax, and veteran cruisers know all sorts of tips and tricks to make their trips smooth sailing. The industry has clawed its way back after the pandemic brought it to its knees. Still, cruises can be an acquired taste, and some travelers may simply be better off as landlubbers. 

Here are 14 kinds of people who might want to think twice before booking a voyage on the high seas. 

To see more, go here. 

Japan Travel Tips To Avoid Crowds

Above, the stage at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since Japan reopened the country following the pandemic, it has been seeing a surge in foreign visitors that are setting records.

With more visitors coming into the country, there is also a downside: crowds.

The Points Guy has posted an article with tips on avoiding crows while traveling in Japan.

Some snippets:

Six decades after hosting the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics — when Japan rapidly rolled out new infrastructure like its Shinkansen bullet train and accommodations like Hotel New Otani Tokyo to welcome the anticipated influx of foreigners — the country remains one of the most beloved leisure destinations in the world. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 17.78 million foreign visitors arrived in the first half of 2024, breaking 2019's previous record of 16.63 million. And there are no signs of a slowdown: Japan aims to nearly double 2019's end-of-year record of 31.88 million tourists to a staggering 60 million annually by 2030.

Though there are countless reasons for Japan's sustained popularity — from tantalizing regional cuisine to safe public transportation systems — the recent surge can largely be credited to a slump in the Japanese yen. In early July, it hit its weakest level since 1990, and while the yen has recovered slightly in the past two months, the dollar remains very strong in Japan. 

Naturally, demand for Japan-bound flights is also booming. "In 2023, Expedia data revealed that the top trending global flight route was LAX to Tokyo, with a surge of 430% compared to the year prior," Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson told TPG. "This fall, Tokyo continues to be a trending destination, with a 50% increase in flight searches."

While Japan is now within reach for more people than ever, there is a downside: relentless crowds. In response, local authorities have instituted a tourism tax for climbers on Mount Fuji, installed barriers to block Instagram-famous views of that same mountain and closed off some private alleys to tourists in Kyoto's geisha district.

Follow these tips to help alleviate the overcrowding and still have an enjoyable vacation in Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone: June Visits Up 8% From Last Year

Above, bison grazing with thermal activity nearby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one wants to visit Yellowstone National Park, they should do so during the off-season.

There's a very good reason for this. The park is very crowded during the summer months of June, July and August. In fact, the park is seeing more visitors this year than last year.

NBC Montana reported:

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY — Yellowstone National Park hosted 914,612 recreation visits in June 2024, up 8% from June 2023.

The park has hosted 1,633,739 visitors this year, which is up 9% from 1,492,843 in 2023.

The busiest time to visit the park is June, July and August.

To read more, go here.

Japan's Golden Week's Travel Bug

Above, yours truly at Godaido Temple in Matsushima in 2006.

Millions of Japanese are hitting the airports, train and bus stations to celebrate Golden Week.

I was in Japan during Golden Week back in 2006 and I remember how crowded the train stations got. I took a bullet train (Shinkansen) trip up to Sendai and Matsushima. 

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

Millions of Japanese started their Golden Week holidays by crowding train stations and airports as they headed to their holiday destinations and hometowns.

Overseas travel was out of the question for many people due to the weak yen.

Predictably, JR Tokyo Station was packed to the rafters as people started fleeing the capital April 27 to spend the holiday period with family members and friends.

Travel departures are expected to reach their peak on May 3, with return trips hitting their busiest on May 5 and 6, according to Japan Railway group companies. The Nozomi trains on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines will operate with all seats reserved until May 6.

To read more, go here.

Yosemite Reinstating Reservation Requirement

Above, Upper Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most popular national parks, Yosemite National Park, is reinstating a reservation system to manage visitors in 2024.

According to Travel Weekly, "Reservations will be available for purchase online beginning Jan. 5 and will be required for vehicle entry to the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the reservation periods."

Travel Weekly also wrote:

Yosemite National Park will once again require reservations for visitors arriving by car beginning this spring as part of a new pilot program to manage visitation at the park.

The Peak Hours Plus program will be similar to previous versions of the timed reservation program but will include more reservation slots for afternoon entries. Yosemite last required reservations during the 2022 season.

Reservations will be required from April through October, in three stages: on weekends from April 13 to June 30; every day from July 1 to Aug. 16; and on weekends from Aug. 17 to Oct. 27.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's 2023 Tourism Boom

Above, the stage at Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is now in a tourism boom. 

Numbers of foreign tourists coming into Japan have been rising since the pandemic restrictions were lifted. The weak yen is one of the reasons foreigners are flocking to Japan. 

However, the average Japanese citizen is feeling the pinch of inflation and other drawbacks of the boom.

Asia Media Centre has posted an article on the tourism boom. 

It begins with:

Japan is enjoying a tourism and investment boom, but ordinary Japanese face a squeeze of wages not keeping pace with inflation. Philip Turner has more from Tokyo. 

Getting that perfect picture of Kiyomizudera temple against glowing red and yellow maples has never been more difficult.  This month Kyoto`s famous autumn colours have attracted so many foreign tourists that authorities are starting to consider Venice-style restrictions on numbers.   Queues at airports are overwhelming even Japan`s excellent infrastructure and organization.  Some 20,000 tourists are entering Japan from South Korea alone every day. 

At the height of Japan`s economic rise in 1989, its cities were among the most expensive in the world.  But over the last year the fall in the yen has made Japan one of the world`s most affordable tourist destinations.

To read more, go here. 

Tips For RVing In The Off-Season

Above, a visit to the Grand Canyon was enjoyable as there
were no crowds in November 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer

My preference for camping is during the spring months before the summer crowds start flooding into national parks and campgrounds.

Yellowstone National Park, to give one example, is a virtual zoo with traffic and scarce parking during the summer. 

RV Travel has posted an article on the joys of traveling without crowds with some valuable tips.

They begin with:

Oh, the joy of traveling without crowds! RVing in the off-season season in late October and November is outstanding. While it was chilly at times, there were no crowds anywhere! Both Grand Canyon National Park and Carlsbad Caverns were virtually empty. Lines at the Grand Canyon shuttles? Nonexistent! Vying for entrance tickets at Carlsbad? We had our choice of more than 300!

To read more, go here. 

Why Are U.S. National Parks Crowded?

Above, Yosemite's Half Dome from Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National parks are enjoying more popularity than ever. This is resulting in congestion in the more popular parks. There's just too many people.

Weather conditions are another factor in crowds.

This is the topic of a new article in Travel Weekly.

They begin it with:

Despite a drop-off in visitation this summer, overcrowding and congestion still dampened the visitor experience at many U.S. national parks. 

But this time, Mother Nature was mostly to blame. 

Yellowstone and Yosemite were among the parks where extensive traffic and long lines at entrances were a problem, despite a decrease in visitation compared with summer 2022. And while several factors were at play, the main one was the residual effects of last year's harsh winter and record snowfall in much of the Western U.S. 

"There have been some significant weather challenges in snowfall and precipitation, which forced prolonged road closures in the region," said Jonathan Farrington, CEO of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau in California.

 To read more, go here.

30% of Japan's Prefectures Seeing Tourism Exceeding 2019 Numbers

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It took Japan longer than the rest of the world to reopen following the pandemic. But since Japan reopened, tourism is recovering.

Right now, 30% of Japan's prefectures are seeing tourism exceeding numbers prior to the pandemic.

According to Kyodo News:

TOKYO - Nearly 30 percent of prefectures across Japan experienced crowds surpassing pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in the first half of this year, with local areas outpacing Tokyo, according to private sector data.

Based on an analysis of major train stations in each of Japan's 47 prefectures, 13 locations, or 28 percent, recorded more people than during the same period in 2019. Conversely, 21 locations, or 45 percent, witnessed a decline in crowds, but this decrease was less than 10 percent. 

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite Crowded With No Reservation System

Above, no long lines at a Yosemite entrance gate in the off-season. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one big reason why I prefer visiting national parks during the off-season: no crowds!

It seems that in recent years (during and since the pandemic), more people are heading off to "get away from it all" at a national park with hordes of others. It is even worse during holiday weekends.

At least during the off-season, while there are people present, there isn't hordes of them. I had an enjoyable time in Yosemite National Park in April 2016. I made camping reservations months before and there were no crowds when I got there.

Above, no crowded viewpoint parking areas in Yosemite during the off-season. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unfortunately, as there is no reservation system in place to enter Yosemite, massive crowds and lines of cars were the result.

This presented a problem recently during the Juneteenth holiday weekend. Either people had to wait four hours to enter Yosemite and/or being turned away at the entrance gate.

From SFGATE: 

When friends and family visit John Stone and his wife, Sandy, at their home in Groveland, a gateway town about a 30-minute drive from Yosemite National Park, they like to bring their guests into the park. They’ve been doing this for upward of 40 years, and it’s always been enjoyable, Stone said, but all that changed over the Juneteenth holiday weekend.

Stone’s cousin and nephew were in town, and when the group tried to enter the park Saturday morning at 10 a.m., they couldn’t get in.

“It was stop and go, stop and go, stop and go,” Stone says of the wait at the Big Oak Flat entrance along Highway 120. “And finally, the cars coming back down the hill were waving at us, telling us that we had to turn around, that they were turning around people at the gate. So we didn’t stay in line any longer.”

 To read more, go here.

National Parks: You May Need Advance Reservations and Permits

Above, at Manzanita Lake Campground at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The days of spontaneously going to a national park without camping reservations are pretty much a thing of the past. In some cases, spontaneously just going to a park is also becoming a thing of the past.

I have gotten lucky in getting campsites at two national parks over the past few years without making any reservations: Joshua Tree National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

But since the pandemic, our national parks are getting more crowded and in order to control crowd numbers to protect the parks, some are requiring reservations even to just enter the park.

That is the subject of a CNBC post.

They begin with:

National park tourism is booming. But an idyllic adventure into the great outdoors can be derailed by overlooking an important aspect of trip planning: advance permits and reservations.

Some of the most frequently visited parks require people to book ahead for access to popular attractions like heavily trafficked hikes, roads and campgrounds. Some require advance tickets for full park entry.

What this means: Travelers can’t necessarily bank on showing up spontaneously to a national park and getting the experience they desire. Fail to secure this paperwork, which is typically free but can carry a processing fee of as little as $2, and you might not even get in. Since reservations can be in high demand, it’s necessary to plan ahead.

To read more, go here. 

National Parks Requiring Summer Reservations

Above, The Watchman at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's nothing wrong with the U.S. national parks. Well, except some have infrastructure issues due to funding neglect stretching over years. The problem rests with the stark fact that there's just too many people wanting to visit them.

The problem increased during the pandemic as they were seen as a way to get out of government-imposed restrictions and quarantines.

The National Park Service had to take action and implement reservation systems to control crowds.

There are some national parks requiring reservations this summer and Travel + Leisure has posted an article on which.

They it begin with:

Nothing says summer like being in the great outdoors, and a trip to a national park is one of the best ways to do that. This year, several popular national parks are implementing reservation systems to control crowds. (For reference, there were more than 311 million visitors to U.S. national parks last year alone, according to the National Park Service.)

From Acadia National Park in Maine to Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, national parks are increasingly rolling out these advanced reservations and building on the success of similar systems in past years. 

These are the national parks that will require a reservation this summer, and how to make one.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Reservations 2023

Above, Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The days of "in the spur of the moment" national park visits are beginning to be a thing of the past. Several national parks are implementing reservation systems to control crowd numbers.

Condé Nast Traveler has an article with a list of the national parks that are requiring reservations in 2023.

They begin it with:

America's protected lands may be for all—but in 2023, national park reservations are very much a thing.

Since the National Park Service (NPS) started recording visitation numbers in 1904, it's welcomed a total of 15.4 billion recreational visitors to its sites, who come to explore the beauty of America's natural, historical, and cultural wonders. In recent years, those numbers have topped 330 million annual visitors (2022 annual numbers have yet to be released), and the pandemic also saw record-breaking numbers in certain parks, with sites like Yellowstone National Park and Arches National Park surpassing their own monthly records for several months in a row during the popular summer season in 2021.  

While the return of more travelers last year—including international travelers as borders reopened—was welcome, it also played tug-o-war with the goal of maintaining the beauty and integrity of the 424 sites preserved by their NPS status. “As a result, parks are exploring many different tools and techniques that are most effective for their situation to help them improve how visitors get to and experience popular park resources and features,” says NPS spokesperson Kathy Kupper.

To read more, go here. 

RV Sales Slowdown Helped Campground Reservations?

Above, The Beast at the Ouray KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV sales have slowed down in recent months to what some would call "normal".

Has this slowdown made it easier to make campground reservations? Personally, I've had no problems in getting campsites reserved this year. I have traveled to Durango, Colorado, Navajo Lake State Park, Ouray, Colorado and Goulding's Lodge Campground near Monument Valley and got campsite reservations at each on first tries.

RV Travel asked its readers if the slowdown has helped in getting campsite reservations easier. Frankly, I think the cost of fuel had more of an impact.

They begin with:

RV sales have slowed (finally) and fewer people are buying RVs than has been the recent trend. Has that changed campground crowding? Is it easier to find a campsite now, particularly in state and national parks? Campgrounds are changing and evolving, some for the better and some for the worse. RV Travel readers discuss their experiences and offer a few tips to help other campers find that perfect spot.

Here are a few observations from our readers. 

To read more, go here. 

Are Rally Crowds An Indicator On What Will Happen On Election Day?

Above, last night's Ronchetti campaign rally in Albuquerque. Photo by Ronchetti Twitter post.

Do campaign rally crowds indicate what will take place on Election Day? It's hard to say. 

Last night, GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti held a rally that drew a crowd of hundreds, if not a thousand attendees in Albuquerque. In contrast, only a few dozen people attended a rally for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The polls have shown statistical ties between the two. It has to be noted that most of them have oversampled Democrats. So the numbers for Ronchetti could possibly be greater in actuality. Once the votes are tabulated, we'll know for sure.

The polling places in the state will open in less than a half hour from now.

We changed the time two days ago, now it's time to change the New Mexico governor. Voters, it's in your hands.

Yellowstone August Visitation Down

Above, the Yellowstone River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The floods of June did more to Yellowstone National Park than just wash out roads and infructure. Visitation to the park is down from a year before.

Outside of a loss of revenue for park vendors and surrounding towns, having fewer people is not totally a bad thing. With fewer crowds, the experience to those who did visit is much more pleasant and will allow animal and plant life to recover. 

The Idaho Capital Sun reported:

Recreational visits at Yellowstone National Park were down again in August as the park continues to recover from historic flooding earlier in 2022.

In August, Yellowstone hosted 582,211 recreational visits, according to a press release from park officials. That is down 37% from the 921,844 recreational visits a year earlier in August 2021, park officials said. 

To read more, go here.